Attachment unit for film reels



K. KNICKERBOCKER ATTACHMENT UNIT FOR FILM REELS June 10, 1958 Filed June 12, 1956 L INVENTOR. A MMC/y linite States The present invention relates toa unit for attachment to the hub of a film reel and has particular reference to `such an attachment forreceiving the end of the film and for anchoring it securely in position for the winding of the film on the hub of the reel.

An'important object of the present invention is the provision lof an attachment for application to existing reels having only a slot or gap in the periphery of the hub member for'receiving the end of the film to be wound thereon, whereby such reels may be quickly yand conveniently converted to a reel construction having film end holding means equal to that of reels with built in devices on the hub member for so holding the film end.

It is also an important object of this invention to provide an attachment of the character indicated which embodies novel features of construction and design that renders it adaptable for fastening to reel hubs of varying diameter without risk of accidental dislodgement therefrom.

Another object is to provide a unit of the type aforementioned which may be secured in position on the hub of the reel without the use of'special assembly fixtures and tools.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified which is simple in construction, eflicient in use and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed. v

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevational view of a typical film reel, with portions thereof in section, illustrating the operative application thereto of an attachment unit embodying the features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l, with parts in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a top perspective view showing the attachment unit as it appears prior to its application to the hub of a film reel.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3. f

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side of attachment unit.

in the drawing, reference numerals 10 andv 11 indicate the side plates of a reel structure of the type with which the attachment unit of the present invention may be used with particular convenience and success` As illustrated, each the side plates and il is provided with open areas, defining the edges of spokes or arms 12 extending in radiating relation to a central area 13 which is per-forated as 'at 1li to define an opening in which a suitable operating shaft (not shown) is adapted to be engaged for driving the reel on said shaft as an axis. The hub member l5 to which the side plates lf2- and t* secured iew of a modified forn $3825 l Patented June 10, 1958 in spaced apart coaxial'relationcomprises a sheet metal band bentinto'an arcuate form corresponding to the curvature of a cylinder having a diameter slightly smaller Vthan the transverse dimension of the central larea 13 of tion circumferentially of the hub to define a recess or gap therebetween coextensive with the axial dimension of the hub member 15. By means of a clearance opening 18 in the plates 10 and 11 in alignment with the re-cess defined 1bythe spaced ends 16 and 17 of the hub member, a film end F has edgewise entry to the recess in directionsaxially of the hub.

A unit for attachment to the hub member 15 and representing a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a film end engaging device in the form vof a length of spring wire wound into a series of turns to provide -a coil spring 19. As shown, each turn of the spring719 presents a pair of opposed substantially parallel portions-joined by outwardly curved end portions, with the end portions spaced apart a distance substantially corresponding to the axial dimension of the hub member 15, and the distance between the parallel portions substantially less'than the distance between said curved end portions. When operatively positioned on the hub member =15jacrvoss the recess defined by the spaced hub ends V16 and 17, the parallel portions of the coils of the spring 19 exposed at the clearance opening 1S present a series vof cooperating fingers between selected adjacent pairs of which affilm end F has edgewise bentry to provide a yieldablefh'old'ing connection with the film end engaged therebetween. `Only' slight'pressure of -the film edge at the curved end portions of -Athe'coils is sufficient to produce la lspreading ofthe coils to allow the lm to be passed axially inwardly between the parallel axially extending portions of the coils of the spring 19.

A flexible strap Ztl having one end thereof fastened in the loop defined by the endmost coils of the spring 19 and a like strap 22 similarly fastened to the spring 19 at the opposite end thereof provide means engageable with the outer surface of the hub for mounting the coil spring 19 in operative position across the recess in the hub member 15. As shown in Fig. 2, one of the axially extending portions of a coil of the spring 19 is crimped inwardly as at 21 to provide a gripped engagement with the end of the strap 20 contained in the corresponding coil of the spring 19 while a similar connection is provided as at 23 for fastening the end of the strap 22 contained in coils at the opposite end of the spring 19. The :strap is of any suitable material, such for example as a composition of rubber and cork, which allows it to be wrapped firmly against the surface of the hub member 15. Each strap is of such length as to meet substantially diametrically opposite the recess in the hub member 15.

As shown in the drawing, the surfaces of the straps 20 and 22 which ultimately face the hub member 15 when finally installed, are preferably supplied with a coating 24 of pressure sensitive adhesive which when pressed against the surface of the hub forms a tight joint therewith. To protect the coating 24 pending the installation of the attachment unit on the reel, a discardable strip 25 is provided as a covering for said coated surface. For

mounting the present attachment unit on the reel hub 15, the operator needs only to peel and tear off the portion of strip 25 extending from opposite ends of the' tively mounted condition. It will be obvious that the free ends of the straps 20 and 22 may be cut oi, as needed to avoid any overlapping at such ends as needed according to variations in the hub diameter.

In Fig. 6, the straps 20 and 22 are adapted to be joined to the spring 19 by means of a hook 27 forming an ex tension of a ferrule or tip 26 crimped about the end of the strap to be joined to the spring.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present attachment unit for iilm reels comprises but a minimum of parts, all of which are easily and inexpensively manufactured, and which requires no special tools or equipment for purposes of easy installation.

The foregoing description has been given for clearness of understanding, and no unnecessary limitations should be inferred therefrom, for it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the construction and application of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A unit for attachment to a film reel having a hub with an axially open recess extending inwardly from its periphery for the reception of a film end therein, said attachment including a member having cooperating fingers between which a film end has entry to provide a yieldable holding connection with a film end engaged therebetween, and means for mounting said member across said recess with the lm engaging surfaces thereof extending axially of the hub, said means including first and second exible straps connected respectively to opposite ends of said member for engagement with the outer peripheral surfaces of the hub.

2. A unit for attachment to a film reel in accordance with claim l wherein the hub facing surfaces of said straps are provided with a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive which when pressed against the surface of the hub forms a tight joint therewith.

3. An attachment unit in accordance with claim 1 21,833,251F t M.

wherein said cooperating fingers are defined by the turns of a coil spring.

4. An attachment unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cooperating fingers are dened by the opposed axially extending portions of the turns of a coil spring and said portions are of a dimension substantially corresponding to the axial dimension of the hub but spaced apart substantially less than said dimension.

5. An attachment unit in accordance with claim l wherein said member comprises a coil spring having open ends, and said straps are respectively inserted and locked in said open ends to establish a connection between the straps and said member.

6. An attachment unit in accordance with claim 5 wherein said locked connection includes an inward deformation provided in one of the turns of the coil spring containing the end portion of the strap.

7. An attachment unit in accordance with claim l wherein said connection between each strap and the corresponding end portion of the member includes a hook fastened to the end of each strap and means on the member engageable by said hook.

8. An attachment unit in accordance with claim 2 wherein said coated surface of the straps is provided with a discardable protective strip.

9. An attachment unit in accordance with claim l wherein each strap is of substantially equal dimension circumferentially of the hub and conjointly embrace the hub through an arc equal to the peripheral dimension of the hub extending in opposite directions from said recess.

l0. An attachment unit in accordance with claim l wherein the longitudinal edges of the strap are in inwardly spaced relation to the opposite axial limits of the hub.

Chappius Nov. 25, 1952 Knickerbocker Jan. 3, 1956 

